New England's Unsolved: The hit-and-run death of Carl Evan Yancey

BROCKTON, Mass. — His friends called him Panda.

It was a nickname that suited Carl Evan Yancey, a big guy with a warm personality and a huge smile.

"He had a wonderful disposition about him, he made friends easily," remembers Darhl Ellison, Yancey's mother.  "He had a great sense of humor that really endeared people to him."

Recently, Darhl sat with me and flipped through a photo album Carl Evan's friends made for her.

On every page, Carl Evan was smiling, enjoying life, living up to that lovable nickname Panda.

Everything changed on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014.

At about 9:22PM a hit and run driver struck Carl Evan as he was crossing busy Belmont Street.

An EMT told Darhl she held Carl Evan as he faded away.

Four years later, Darhl Ellison is still looking for justice.

"I don’t think I could leave a person in the street," Ellison said.  "I would have thrown that car into park and ran out the door, screaming for God."

Retired Brockton Police Officer Dan Matukas, who is now a private investigator, is looking into the case. So are the Massachusetts State Police and Brockton Police.

"I know they got a lot on their plate. I don't think that they've forgotten about it. I have a lot more time to sit down and focus on it," Matukas told me.

On the night Carl Evan was killed, he worked until closing at Shaw's Supermarket.

Carl Evan crossed Belmont Street to a now-closed Seven-Eleven to buy a pack of cigarettes.

Carl Evan was fatally struck crossing back over Belmont towards Shaw’s.

Video surveillance released by Mass State Police, shows a minivan speeding away from the scene, moments after Carl Evan was struck. Matukas tells me it could be a silver or gray Nissan Quest.

Matukas is hoping some might remember a vehicle fitting that description getting repair work done to its front passenger side. Or better yet, he's hoping someone might come up with a license plate number. Just two numbers could be enough to find the driver.

"If someone saw something, even if they got a plate, we need two numbers off the plate. One number, two numbers…we can match up to a color. We need something," Matukas said.

Darhl believes that something will happen. She believes the hit and run driver who took her son's life, will be identified.

"He's not a dog. He's not an animal. He's not a roadkill. He's a human being who lived, who thrived, who cared about people. He was loved and is missed," Darhl said.

If you have any information about this hit and run case call Mass State Police Detectives at 508-894-2600 or Private Investigator Matukas of Blue Chip Protection at 508-328-7644.

Cox Media Group